Several people wrote to say that membership in the highly distinguished Badass Teachers Association was closed, that they applied and were turned down. This seemed unlikely to me, given the group’s desire to spread, so I contacted its founder Mark NAISON and asked him if there was a glitch. I also asked him if he could create a website for those who are not on Facebook. Here is his response (for some reason, whenever I write Mark’s last name on my iPad, it always turns into caps):
Hi Diane!
We now have six administrators on the site so anyone who applies gets In quickly!
As to how to create a non Facebook option for the group, I will have to discuss that with the five people who have been working with me in this, who are much higher tech then I am!
This whole explosion of interest caught me totally by surprise! I hav e started several Facebook pages and I would have never predicted tha this is the one that would go viral and capture so many people’s imaginations
Now people are talking about just showing up in Washington on Labor Day and surrounding Congress with teachers parents and students
Given what has happened in the last few days, I would not write this off as impossible!!
Best, Mark
Mark D Naison
Professor of African American Studies and History
Fordham University
“If you Want to Save America’s Public Schools: Replace Secretary of Education Arne Duncan With a Lifetime Educator.” http://dumpduncan.org/
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Dr. Ravitch – thank you so much for your support. We will be working to extend our influence via websites and twitter and anything else we can do. We will even rent planes to fly banners over the beaches in summer!!! We are angry, we are frustrated and we are talking. We need time as we are inundated with requests to join. We hope that when things settle a bit we can begin to organize, communicate, and move with this. Thanks again and congratulations on your induction into the Badass Teachers Hall of Fame
I was accepted in 15 minutes. Probably, there was a glitch for the others. They should try again.
I am a parent in full alignment with BA Teachers Ass’n– cool to join or is it really just for actual in the classroom teachers!? Either way fine obviously. And the rent-a-plane for banners is a great idea though costly. Bravo y’all.
Yes, I am definitely BTA! However, can’t/won’t do Facebook, so, Mark, hope you can do a non-F. Kudos to you!